Alumina or aluminum oxide is the industrial product produced from bauxite ore applying the Bayer process. About two to three tonnes of bauxite are required to produce one tonne of alumina. Depending on the degree of processing, alumina can be hydrated or anhydrous (calcined). Owing to its physicochemical characteristics (hardness, low melting point, chemical inertness) alumina is used in several applications including construction and water purification1.
Metlen alumina refinery produces more than 840,000 tonnes of hydrated alumina per year. Part of this production is used in the AoG’s aluminium smelter located next to the alumina refinery. The rest of the produced quantity is exported to Europe and other countries around the world, as hydrated or anhydrous alumina.
1Alumina is used as a chemical additive in abrasives and insulating materials, refractory materials, detergents, pharmaceuticals as well as substances used for water treatment.
Primary aluminum is the industrial product produced from aluminium oxide (alumina) applying the Hall – Héroult process. The Hall – Héroult process or else smelting process is an electrolytic (reduction) process through which the aluminium oxide is converted to liquid pure aluminium with the help of a significant amount of energy. The liquid aluminium is transferred to the Casthouse where it is further processed and mixed with other various metals to create aluminum alloys up to customer needs.
Metlen aluminium unit in Agios Nikolaos produces annually more than 190,000 tonnes of high-quality casthouse products (billets, slabs, and T-ingots). For aluminium production, the total 75 hectares area industrial complex of ALUMINIUM of Greece comprises:
The personnel’s unique know-how; its constant effort for continuous improvement and excellence; the unit’s flexibility that allows immediate response to market needs and its consistency to deliver high-quality products, are some of the characteristics that have made Metlen a strong brand with presence in more 20 countries all around the world.
